Illuminated work support



Jan. 24, 1956 N. P. KING 2,732,481

ILLUMINATED WORK SUPPORT Filed Sept. 15, 1953 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS United States Patent ILLUMINATED WORK SUPPORT Nelson P. King, Jamestown, N. Dak. Application September 15, 1953, Serial No. 380,193 5 Claims. (Cl. 240-4) This invention relates to an adjustable rest or support which may be used fora variety of purposes such as the production, inspection and/ or display of drawings, paintings, photographs and similar items; and as a speakers or directors stand.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a rest or support of the indicated type which can be adjusted to any desired angular position quickly and easily, thereby enabling the user to work or observe from a standing or sitting position, and at the most suitable and convenient height and angle.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the indicated type having an adjustable work supporting surface and means for illuminating the work supporting surface, the arrangement being such that when the work supporting surface is adjusted to a desired angular position, the position of the illuminating means is simultaneously and automatically adjusted so as always to be directly above the approximate middle of the supporting surface thereby maintaining even illumination of an object supported by the surface.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the indicated type adapted to rest on a table, desk or the like, and having means associated therewith engageable with an edge of the table, desk or the like for supporting and maintaining same in position while work is being performed thereon.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken with the accompanying drawing, where- 1n:

Figure l is a perspective view of the device of the invention operatively positioned on a table, desk or the like; and

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device as shown in Figure 1, the full line showking representing one adjusted position of the device and the broken line showing another adjusted position of the device.

Referring to 'the drawing, the numeral designates a work supporting member, herein referred to as a work board, having a layer of cork 11 on the forward surface thereof to facilitate attachment of a photograph, painting, drawing or the like, by means of push pins or thumb tacks. The Work board 10 is preferably, but not necessarily, rectangular in shape, and of a size to accommodate the object to be displayed or worked on.

Adjacent the bottom thereof, the work board 10 is provided with a ledge 12 having a groove 13 in the upper surface thereof for holding pencils, brushes, and other articles or instruments with which the user is working. On the back thereof, the work board 10 has a transverse member or table rest 14 secured thereto and spaced from the bottom of the work board for a purpose to be described.

Adjacent its upper edge, the work board 10 has a transverse member 15 secured thereto to which an arm 16 is hingedly connected as by the hinge 17. The arm 16 has a lower portion 18 extending downwardly from the hinge 17 and provided at its lower end with feet 19 for engagement with a supporting surface such as a table top. The arm 16 also has an upper portion 20 extending upwardly from the hinge 17 and provided with a beveled edge 21 against which a light fixture 22 is secured in any suitable manner as by bolts and nuts 23. In a preferred arrangement, the length of the lower portion 18 is approximately equal to the distance between the lower edge of the table rest 14 and the hinged connection of the arm 16 and work board 10, the length of the upper portion 20 being such that the light fixture 22 carried thereby is disposed approximately above the middle of the work board.

The light fixture 22 is preferably of the fluorescent type having one or more fluorescent tubes 24, two of such tubes being shown for purposes of illustration. However, it will be appreciated that any other suitable type of illuminating means can be used, as desired.

The work board 10 is held at a desired angle of inclination by adjustable members 25 and 26 having their inner ends hingedly connected together as by a bolt 27 and wing nut 28, and their outer ends hingedly connected respectively to the arm 16, as at 29, and to a strut on the back of the work board 10.

The various elements of the device may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials, such as metal, wood, plastic and the like. The work board, however, is preferably provided with a layer of cork or similar soft material, as previously indicated herein.

Operation In the use of the device, for example, in the production of drawings, paintings and similar items, the device is positioned on a table, desk or similar supporting surface, in the manner shown in Figure 1, namely with the table rest 14 resting on the edge of the supporting surface and the feet 19 resting on the supporting surface at a point spaced from the edge. The user than adjusts the work board to the angle of inclination best fitted for his needs by loosening the Wing nut 28, moving the parts to the desired adjusted position and then tightening the wing nut 28.

When the device is positioned as described, it will be noted that the lower portion of the work board which projects below the table rest is disposed against the edge of the table, desk or like support thereby serving to assist in maintaining the device in fixed position during use.

It will further be noted that as the work board is adjusted to various angular positions the lamp fixture is simultaneously and automatically adjusted with respect thereto so that it always occupies a position approximately above the middle of the work board. This results from the particular arrangement shown and described wherein the light fixture is mounted on the upwardly extending portion 23 of the arm 16 for swinging movement therewith whenever the arm 16 is adjusted with respect to the work board. Thus, for example, when the lower portion of the arm 16 is swung rearwardly to the broken line position shown in Figure 2 to decrease the angle of inclination of the work board with respect to the horizontal the upper portion of the arm 16 and the light fixture carried thereby swing forwardly with respect to the hinged connection between the arm 16 and the work board. Simultaneously therewith the hinged connection moves downwardly and rearwardly.

As a result of the swinging movement of the arm 16 and the downward and rearward movement of the hinged connection, the light fixture likewise moves downwardly and rearwardly, and the parts are so proportioned that the extent of rearward movement of the light fixture is substantially the same as the extent of rearward movement of the middle of the work board. Hence, in any adjusted operative position of the work board the light fixture will always be disposed approximately above the middle thereof to provide even illumination thereon in any of its adjusted positions.

While it is preferred to maintain the light fixture in position above the middle of the work board, as described, it will be appreciated that it may be maintained in position above other portions of the work board by suitably varying the proportions and relative positions of the parts. Thus, for example, by shortening the distance between the light fixture and the hinged connection between the arm 16 and the work board, the light fixture can be made to occupy a position over a portion of the work board above the middle thereof. Conversely, by lengthening this distance, the light fixture can be made to occupy a position over a portion of the work board below the middle thereof.

It will thus be seen that the present invention provides a device of the indicated type in which the work board can be easily and quickly adjusted to any angle desired by the user, thus enabling him to work or observe from a standing or sitting position, and at the height and angle most suitable and convenient. This eliminates fatigue caused by bending over, as well as pain and discomfort caused by improper occupational position. In addition,

the light fixture is always positioned approximately above the middle of the board thereby affording even illumination and thus relieving eye strain under all conditions of use.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, the invention is not to be construed as limited to the specific details illustrated and described except as included in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A free standing device of the character described comprising a work board, a substantially straight arm hinged intermediate the ends thereof to the upper portion of said board to provide a downwardly extending portion for free standing engagement with a table top or similar supporting surface and an upwardly extending portion, illuminating means carried upon said upwardly extending portion and disposed above said board for illuminating an object thereon, and adjustable means connected to said board and to the downwardly extending portion of said arm for holding them in a desired angular relationship.

2. A free standing illuminated easel comprising a work holder for holding a large fiat sheet, including a ledge along the lower margin thereof; a substantially straight elongated arm hinged intermediate the ends thereof to the upper portion of the holder to provide a downwardly extending portion for engagement with a table top or similar supporting surface and cooperating with the lower margin of the work holder to support the entire structure; an upwardly extendmg portion of said arm, i1luminating means carried on said upwardly extending por' tion and disposed above said work holder for illuminating the work thereon, and adjustable means connecting said work holder and the downwardly extending portion of said arm for holding the lower arm in supporting relation and the upper arm in illuminating relation to the work holder.

3. The structure of claim 2 including a crosspiece secured to the rear of the work holder above the lower edge thereof, said crosspiece being adapted for engagement with the edge of a table or similar supporting surface to cooperate with the lower portion of the elongated arm to support the easel.

4. A free standing device of the character described comprising a board for supporting a drawing, painting, photograph or the like, a transverse member secured to the back of said board adjacent but in spaced relation to the lower edge thereof and adapted to engage, solely by the weight of the device, the edge portion of a table top or similar supporting surface, a substantially straight arm hinged intermediate the ends thereof to said board to provide a downwardly extending portion for engagement, by the weight of the device, with an intermediate portion of a table top and an upwardly extending portion, illuminating means carried on said upwardly extending portion and disposed above said board for illuminating an object thereon, and adjustable means connected to said board and to the downwardly extending portion of said arm for holding them in a desired angular relationship.

5. A free standing device of the character described comprising a work board having a surface for supporting a drawing, painting, photograph, or the like, an arm hingedly connected intermediate the ends thereof to the upper portion of said work board to provide a downwardly extending portion for engagement with a table top or similar supporting surface and an upwardly extending portion, a light fixture secured to said upwardly extending portion and disposed above said work board for illuminating an object thereon, a pair of arms hingedly connected to each other and one each to said work board and said downwardly extending portion, and means for preventing relative movement of said arms to thereby hold said work board in a desired adjusted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 861,253 Brady July 30, 1907 1,334,373 Hoppin Mar. 23, 1920 1,416,409 Miner May 16, 1922 1,839,291 Barbour Jan. 5, 1932 2,273,361 Kozloif Feb. 17, 1942 

